And the find could prove to be a welcomed boost to the oil and gas industry in Scotland – and raise the political stakes in the war or words over Scottish independence and Brexit.

Now the firm is hoping to raise around £318m to develop the discovery and aims to begin producing oil from the Lancaster field in 2019.

Chief executive Dr Robert Trice said: “This is a highly significant moment for Hurricane and I am delighted that the Halifax well results support the company’s view that its substantial Lancaster discovery has been extended to include the Halifax licence.

“We believe that the greater Lancaster area is a single hydrocarbon accumulation, making it the largest undeveloped discovery on the UK Continental Shelf.